A Marriage Without Choice

One morning, her father entered her small room where Emily sat tracing the raised dots of an old Braille book. He tossed a folded piece of cloth into her lap.

“You’re getting married tomorrow,” he said flatly.

Emily froze. Married? To who?

“He’s a homeless man I see at the church,” her father continued. “You’re blind, he’s poor. That’s a fair match.”

Her lips parted, but no words came out. She had no choice—she never did.